Kyoto Part Two!

From Saturday through Monday I was in Kyoto with fellow MSU grad and current ALT Heidi. We stayed at the Shunko-in Temple in northern Kyoto City. Believe it or not, I found out about the temple through a facebook advertisement hawking discounts to JETs and Arizona State University alum. The vice-abbot speaks English and gives tours of the temple and garden and leads a 30 minute meditation session, mercifully excluding the Stick of Compassion. Unlike the Portugeuse bell, hidden crosses in the garden lanterns, and some of the Christian imagery on the temple's screens, the Stick of Compassion did not come over with the Jesuits (I don't think they brought any Catholic school nuns with them).



Enjoying some tea and not causing trouble after meditation.


The accomodations were not at all shabby!

The temple is a part of a larger complex called Myoshinji.


Another part of Myoshinji is Sanmon (above), which has a really ornate upper room with a Kannon statue. Every last inch is painted in bright colors and bold outlines.



One of the many many buildings in the complex. It's large, but it feels small with everything behind walls.


The temple offered free bikes on loan. I took one to Ryoanji, which is unfortunately closed until February for construction of some sort. Still, it was a nice bike ride uphill and I went on a little walk in the woods.



Being in the former capital of Japan, of course we had to sample some of the local fare, which is how we found ourselves at a WONDERFUL Turkish restaurant in Teramachi. Good tea!





We also stopped by Kiyomizudera, which is featured in the Tale of Genji. There's a spring with healing/wish-giving waters and a sort of cave that's like Buddha's womb. You pay 100 yen to go down some steps and walk around in the dark for a minute or two (while holding the rail with your left hand! Don't let go!) until you reach an illuminated stone, where you place your hands and pray to Buddha. Then it's a little further until you reach the staircase and are reborn when you exit. It's worth it for the wow! effect of walking around in the dark and seeing only the stone lit up.

Kiyomizudera is also a stop on the Saigoku Kannon pilgrimage, so I brought my stamp book along. That's two down, thirty-one more to go!

We also checked out the International Manga Museum, which had a neat exhibit on French comics from the 1800s to the present and an exhibit on a project between European and Asian comic artists. The exhibits are in Japanese and English, so be sure to check it out if you have the chance.

Our last day it snowed on and off. It was lovely!





I'm sure I'll be back in the spring. I've seen Kyoto in summer, fall, and winter. It would only make sense!